A visit to Hull by a delegation of retired Icelandic skippers proved so successful that it is to become an annual event – and next year the Icelanders have promised to take their hosts back with them.
The group of 40 ex-skippers were hosted by the Hull Bullnose Heritage Group (HBHG) at its museum in the port’s Hessle Road fishing district at the end of a tour which included Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven in Germany.
HBHG chairman Jerry Thompson said: “They had a great time, so much so they are going to take us back home with them next time.”
The group, mainly from Akureyri – a small town 100km from the Arctic Circle known as the capital of North Iceland – arrived in Hull on Monday last week and spent several hours at the Hull’s Fishermen’s Heritage Centre swapping stories with the ex-trawlermen who set up the museum.
The trip was organised by heritage campaigner Fusi Helgason, and events were laid on by Hull-based Icelandic businessman Baldvin Gislason and his son Jack of Gislason Fish Selling, along with the HBHG.
The Icelanders then visited the newly refurbished Spurn Lightship in the city’s marina, where spent a couple of hours before visiting St Andrew’s Dock, where many of them had once landed fish.
Jack Gislason said: “Fusi and the men are very interested in heritage. Fusi is a sort of ‘Icelandic Jerry Thompson’ and spends a lot of time trying to ensure his own local heritage. He was very moved by the trawlermen’s memorial on St Andrew’s Dock.”
Afterwards, they spent time at Mr Chu’s Chinese restaurant – the late John Prescott’s favourite. The venue is well known locally for its panoramic views of the Humber.
In the evening they were joined by the men and women of the HBHG at The Whittington and Cat pub near the riverside. The venue was a favourite of the Icelanders when they landed catches in Hull.
Mr Thompson said: “The men in that group ranged from their seventies to nineties. They had a great time, and even treated me to an Icelandic folk song on the coach when they left the centre. We swapped lots of stories and joked that when we visit them, we’d like to get our potatoes back!” This is a reference to the incursions in the Cod Wars, when trawlermen would throw whatever they could at gunboats that threatened to cut their warps.
He added: “The spirit of friendship on both sides was amazing. After all, we are all fishermen. We’re looking forward to next year and I am sure this will become an annual highlight in both our calendars.
“We might’ve been old enemies at one time. But we are certainly new friends.”
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For further information on this story and for more reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here.
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